Labeling-machine.



PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

w. nnson. LABELING MACHINE.

. APPLIOATIOK FILED EEPT. 30, 1904 I 4 SHEETS-:SHEET 2.

PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

w. psom LABELING MACHINE.

LPPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 31, 1905.

w. EDSON.

LABELING MACHINE. APPLIOATIOI IILED 812M230, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. INVZTUfl UNITED STATES Patented. January 31, 1905 PATENT OFFICE.

LABELING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 781,333, dated January31, 1905.

Application filed September 30,1904. Serial No. 226,697.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,WILLIAM EDsoN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Im" provements in Labeling-Machines, ofwhich the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for affixing labels to boxes,bottles, and other articles. the object being to make a machine thatwill be simple in its construction and rapid in its work. These objectsI attain by means of the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 2 is an elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a cross vertical section showing the principalparts. Fig. 3 shows details. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken online 4: 4 of Fig. 3 and enlarged.

1n the drawings, A represents the table, which forms a base for most ofthe working parts of the machine. This table is supported upon legs A A.A brace-frame A connects the legs A A and also forms a support for thestep A, by which the lower end of the main shaft B is held in place.(See Figs. 2 and 3.) The upper'end of the shaft B'is held by thecross-bridge A Motion is given to the main shaft B by a counter-shaft BFig. 2, acting through the bevel-gears B B. The

counter-sh aft B is supported by hangers A A.

i The leading feature of my machine is the main carrier, to which theimportant and char acteristic devices are attached. This main carrierconsists of a drum O and its horizontal flange O and, is connected tothe main shaft The main carrier 0 O has attached to it label-conveyersG, which are constructed to swing from a vertical to a horizontalposition. For instance, the label-conveyer G at the left of Fig. 3 is inits horizontal position in the act of picking up a label,

from the label-box L and the one at the right of the same figure is inits vertical position, label not shown. The label-c0nveyer G is madehollow, as shown in section in Figs. 3 and 4, and has perforation g inits face and swings upon a hollow axle F. The interior of thelabel-conveyer is connected by the openthe hollow shaft B and isconnected interiorly with it by the openings 03.

The hollowmain shaft B is supported in a step A, attached to thecross-brace A and is interiorly connectedwith the fixed tube A (SeeFigs. 2 and 8.) An airpum ping bellows D is attached to the fixed tube Aand is -operated by an eccentric B on the counter-shaft B acting throughthe eccentric-strapB", rod B, and arm B pumping-bellows with theinterior of the fixed tube A thus connecting the pumping-bellows withthe hollow main shaft B, the vacuumchamber D, the pipes F. andlabel-carriers G. To insure an .even tension in thevacuumchamberandtubes, I have attached the bellows D which has a weightW connected to it by the rod W and bracket W vent too great a stress inthe vacuum-chamher, a relief-valve D is used.

To relieve theair-pressure on the label held by the conveyer G when itis being applied to the bottle or other article, I place a valve at F,Figs. 3 and 4, which is arranged to cut off or, letout the air in thepipe F. This valve is of the two-way class and is so arranged that whenin the position shown in Fig. 4 a passage of air from the interior ofthe carrier G. to the vacuum-chamber is allowed, and when the valve isturned so that the opening F in the valve opens into the interior of thepipe F (toward the carrier G) and the passage F in valve will be turnedto the opening F in the valve-case this'will al low of a free passage'of air from the outside to the conveyer G, thus relieving the interiorofthe said conveyor from external pressure and as a consequence free thelabel that has been held on the conveyer. This freeing of the conveyerfrom the vacu um takes place at the time that the label is being placedupon the bottle. The valve at F is operated by the sternF F which isbent so as to form a crank at F which is operated by the camgroove madein the fixed cam-piece F. said cam-piece F is held by the posts F". Foreach of the label-conveyers G a label- The To me.

A valve D* connects the holding box L is provided, and as the labelboxesmove with the label-conveyer G there is no slipping of one label uponanother, as the conveyer G lifts the label vertically from its box. Theconveyers G are made to turn down from their vertical positions, asshown on the right of Fig. 3, to their horizontal positions, as shown onthe left of Fig. 3, by means of the arm G and the fixed cam-piece G.held vertically by the edge of the fixed campiece the conveyer is heldvertically; but as the main carrier-drum C C rotates it takes thelabel-conveyers with it, and when the arm Gr of the conveyer G reachesthe cut-out and bent-up part G" of the fixed cam G (see Figs. 3 and 4)then the said arm G is free, and the label-conveyer will fall to itshorizontal position and onto a label L in the label-box L. (See Fig. 3,left-hand side.) As the carrierdrum continues to rotate the arm G willbe forced downward by the part Gr of the cam G thus causing the conveyerand the label that it is picking up to assume vertical positions.Continued rotation of the drum will carry the conveyer and its label tothe paste distributing wheel P Fig. 2. As the drum continues to rotatethe label-conveyor carries the label to the bottle, (indicated by dottedlines at N.) The arm G is attached to the label-conveyer G by a joint atG so as to admit of angular adjustment to admit of applying labels toinclined surfaces.

The labels L in the label-box L are moved upward to make up for thosetaken from the top by the means of a moving bottom L which is mountedupon a screw L Fig. 3, upon which a nut L works. The said nut L is heldin the bail-piece L, so as to be free to rotate, but not to move up ordown. Rotation is given to this nut by a fixed frictionpiece L Fig. 8,so arranged that as the nut L" passes it during the rotation of' thecarrierdrum the nut L will be made to turn on the screw L and force thebottom L upward.

The endless apron H, Figs. 1 and 2, moves freely on the rollers H H andH H The belt H may be driven by power transmitted from any convenientsource. This endless apron serves as a table and carrier for the bottleor other article, (indicated by the dotted lines N, Fig. 1.) A secondbelt K, supported by the rollers K K, turning on shafts K K is used tohold the article N, to which the label is being applied in position.While the article N is being acted upon the belt K will yield, asindicated by the dotted lines 71:. The shafts K K are held in anadjustable frame K which is adjustably supported by the hinged bracket KK (See Fig. The

parts K and K are pivoted together by the pin so that the upright K* maybe inclined to the angle required by the article that is to be actedupon. The horizontal part K is adjus'tably held by a screw-bolt K. Theare- For instance, so long as the arm G is 1 pieces K Ix arerespectively attached to the parts K K and are clamped together by abolt K, each one having a number of holes for the bolt to pass through,thus admitting of an angular adjustment of the part K and the frame K".

The pasting device (see Fig. 2) consists of a paste-tank P, filled withpaste P. into which the coned drums P P P" are partly immersed. As theconed paste-drums rotate they convey the paste to the paste-distributingcylinder P, which in turn distributes the paste upon the label (notshown) on conveyer G.

In some kinds of labeling the use of the vacuum in the label-takers Gmay be dispensed with, and the face of the label-takers may be coatedwith some material (beeswax, for instance) that will cause the labels toadhere temporarily-J. (2., long enough for the taker to carry them tothe article to which they are to be applied.

I claim- 1. In a labeling-machine: a main carrier consisting of a drumrotating on a vertical axis, and having a horizontal flange constructedto carry a number of label-holding boxes; said label-holding boxes; anumber of labelconveyers pivotally attached to the said drum andconstructed to operate in conjunction with the said label-holding boxeswhereby labels may be lifted from said boxes and held in a. verticalposition; and means for operating said main carrier and saidlabel-conveyors.

2. In a labeling-machine: a main carrier consisting of a drum rotatingon a vertical axis, and having a horizontal flange constructed to carrya number of label-holding boxes; said label-holding boxes; a number oflabelconveyers pivotally attached to the said drum and constructed tooperate in conjunction with the said label-holding boxes whereby labelsmay be lifted from said boxes and held in a vertical position: means foroperating said mechanisms; a vacuum-chamber interiorly connected withsaid label-conveyors; means producing and regulating vacuum within saidchamber; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a labeling-machine: a main carrier consisting of a drum rotatingon a vertical axis, and having a. horizontal flange constructed to carrya number of label-holding boxes; said label-holding boxes; a number oflabelconveyers pivotall y attached to the said drum and constructed tooperate in conjunction with the said label-holding boxes whereby labelsmay be lifted from said boxes and held in a vertical position; alabel-pasting device consisting of a paste-tank; a coned paste-conveyerdrum constructed to carry paste from said tank to a paste-distributingcylinder; said paste-distributing cylinder and means for operating thesaid mechanisms.

4. In a labeling-machine: a main carrier, consisting of a drum rotatingon a vertical axis, and having a horizontal flange construct-- ed tocarry a number of label-holding boxes; and said label-holding boxes,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a labeling-machinez a main, carrier consisting of a drum rotatingon a vertical axis, and a horizontal flange attached thereto and havinga number of label-holding boxes,

the said label-holding boxes each having a movable bottom constructedtoforce the labels'upward, whereby the upper labels are maintained atthe height required, and means for operating said movable bottom;substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 21st'day of September, A.D. 1904.

Witnesses; 4

FRANK Gr. PARKER, JOHN BUoKLER.

WILLIAM EDSON.

